Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide users with detailed procedures regarding the establishment and administration of a departmental petty cash fund.

Petty cash disbursements should be used only for small incidental expenditures and not as a method to bypass Maricopa County Community College District’s (MCCCD) Accounts Payable and Purchasing systems.

Thus, the purpose of a petty cash fund is to provide departments with ready cash for the payment of various small expenditures not available through a purchase order (PO). It is intended for local purchases only.

Restrictions

The petty cash fund cannot be used for:

Purchasing goods covered by an MCCCD cooperative contract. For example, office supplies that can be purchased through a purchase order with a cooperative contract with Office Depot or Office Max. These contracts provide very competitive pricing and discounts.

Any type of professional service to either an employee or non-employee, this includes such payments for rentals and non-employee athletic event workers.

Reimbursements of any kind, including travel. Please see the Fiscal Office for reimbursement process.

Making personal loans, salary advances or to serve as a check cashing fund.

The purchase of money orders, coupons, gift cards and other similar types of pre-purchase tenders to pay for goods.

Guidelines and Procedures

MCC’s Petty cash limit is $200. The Manager of College Business Services, Dean of Administrative Services or the Vice President of Administrative Services must sign all petty cash requests over $200.

A petty cash must be pre-approved and issued prior to purchasing goods. The date of the receipt must be on or after the date issued on the petty cash.

Original receipts and/or cash must be returned to the Bursar/Cashier Services within (10) days after you received the petty cash. Receipts must clearly indicate the items purchased and the name of the vendor/store. All receipts must coincide with the purpose indicated on the Petty Cash Form.

It is preferred that personal items not to be purchased and/or included on the petty cash receipts. If the receipt includes combined personal and business-related purchases, the business-related items are to be circled, and personal items crossed out. Calculate and include proper sales tax with the purchases.

Only board-approved employees may pick up and return a petty cash. Students/Club Treasurers are not allowed to pick up petty cash. A student Club Treasurer may pick up petty cash for club functions when accompanied by their Advisor.

Only one petty cash voucher per account number can be taken out at any given time.

After the petty cash has been closed out with Cashiers, you may submit your pink copy petty cash form to Fiscal Services for Reimbursement if you spent more than the requested amount. This reimbursement process has to be approved through CFS requisitioning process.

Process

Obtain a Petty Cash Voucher from the Department administrative support staff.

Complete all of the required information and especially provide a detailed description of purchases to be made with the Petty Cash. For example, for office supplies write, “pens, pencils, paper clips”, etc instead of just writing “office supplies”.

Return remaining cash and original receipts to Cashier Services within 10 business days after the petty cash was issued to you. Please do not highlight the totals on the receipts. If you want the totals to stand out you may circle them.

How to Fill out a Petty Cash Voucher

Requested By and Date – Only board approved employees (Club Advisors) are allowed to sign and pick up cash.

Dept Head/Advisor – Signature of Supervisor or Club Advisor

Unit Head – Signature of Supervisor, Dean, VP or President

Fiscal Agent – Signature of Bursar/Cashier Services Staff

Purpose – Enter a brief, but specific explanation of what the funds are to be used for.* NOTE: “Purchase of supplies” is not sufficient, instead, “pens, post it notes, scissors....”

Date/ Received by/ Amount – The recipient’s signature, the date the cash is received, and dollar amount is filled in by the recipient. These fields should be signed and dated only when the funds are received. The person receiving the funds is responsible for safekeeping and proper use of the funds.

Account Code – Enter the appropriate CFS Account Code. Expenditures can be split into two or more account codes. The complete CFS account looks like this, for example, 210-250-241440-54100.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need original receipts?

The Petty Cash Fund is subject to audit; therefore, the District Office must maintain the receipts. They are maintained in the Accounts Payable department when MCC Cashier Services submits the reconciled Petty Cash Vouchers, plus related receipts for fund replenishments and fulfillments of newly Petty Cash requests. Original receipts are required to prevent multiple submissions.

What happens if the funds are lost?

Fund safeguarding is the custodian’s/cash recipient’s responsibility and lost funds must be repaid by the custodian.

What happens if the funds are lost?

The recipient is responsible for safeguarding all the receipts until the Petty Cash is closed out with Cashier Services. If the receipts are lost, the custodian must get a duplicate copy of receipts or a letter with receipt information (amount, transaction date and business name) from the vendor/store or be repaid with personal money.

What if the vendor only provides a tape receipt?

An original receipt including the date of purchase and vendor name is needed. If the vendor name is not printed on the receipt, then on the back, write the vendor name and sign or attach the business card of the vendor.

What if the funds are obtained for a specific event and excess funds become available? Can excess funds be used to purchase other miscellaneous items not listed on the voucher?

NO. Keep in mind that all purchases must be pre-approved prior to purchase, otherwise, it could be considered an unauthorized purchase and reimbursement can be denied.

The Cashiering staff must audit the receipts submitted to ensure adherence to MCCCD’s policies. If she/he identifies discrepancies, the custodian must resolve them before the voucher can be closed. An example of a discrepancy: Funds are obtained on 1/10/06, but some of the receipts are dated prior 1/10/06. We will not accept those receipts on that Petty Cash.

Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona.